Reroll-controlling mechanism for musical instruments.



I H. J. LA JOIE. RERQLL CONTROLLING M ECHANlSM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.APPLICATION FILED Nov. 10. 1914. 1,300,978.

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Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

UNITED STATES PATENT curios.

HERBERT J. LA J'OIE, 0F ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 AUTOPIANOCOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

Application filed November 10, 1914. Serial No. 871,395.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT J. LA J 01E, a citizen of the United States,residing at Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented a new and useful Reroll-Controlling Mechanism for MusicalInstruments, of which the following is a specification.

Many of the ordinary musical instruments played by a perforatednote-sheet and apertured tracker-bar are now driven by an elec- 'tricmotor connected to operate the bellows and the various parts of theinstrument.

The object of this present invention is to control the re-rolling andstopping of the note-sheet in such an instrument.

To this end the invention consists in providing means for operating theswitch which controls the operation of the electric motor, which meansis held out of operation by the note-sheet when it is in position. Bythis mechanism, just as soon as the re-rolling is substantiallycompleted, the electric motor will be stopped.

Mechanism is also provided by which the re-rolling will take place assoon as the playing of the piece is completed, or the notesheet has runfar enough.

The invention is shown in the accompanying drawing forming part of thisapplication for patent in which,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view; and

Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views on en larged scale, illustrat' theoperation.

Referring to the drawmg and in detail, A designates the perforatednote-sheet, and B the apertured tracker-bar of a musical instrument. 0represents, conventionally, an electric motor, which is connected todrive the instrument in any of the ways well known in this-art.

The mechanism, as illustrated, has been designed and applied in anautomatic playerpiano. The electric motor is controlled from atwo-button switch D. A rod 9 is connected to one button 10 of theswitch, and has a knob 11 on its end so that the operator can start theinstrument.

To start the instrument in operation, the operator pushes in on the lmob11.

12 represents the re-roll lever of the instrument, which is mounted on ashaft 13, which has a crank-arm 14 connected by a link 15 to thegovernor of the motor in the ordinary way, the parts being arranged sothat when the re-roll lever is in the position shown, the note-sheetwill be drawn forward over the tracker for playing, and so that when there-roll lever 12 is thrown to the left, or to the position indicated indotted lines, the motor will be connected to re-roll the perforatednote-sheet.

A control opening 16 is arranged in the tracker so as to be covered bythe margin of the note-sheet when the same is in operative position.This control opening is connected by a tube 17 to control the operationof a primary valve 18, which controls the operation of a pneumatic 19.This pneumatic 19 has an arm 20, extending through a hole in which is arod 21 connected to a crankarm 22 on shaft 13.

A collar 23 is adjustably secured on the rod 21, whereby a movement ofthe movable leaf of the pneumatic to the right will push said rod 21 tothe right. The rod 21 still can be moved to the right, independently ofthe pneumatic.

The note-sheet is provided with a notch or aperture 24, behind theperforations which are cut in the note-sheet for the piece of music. Bythis means, when the notesheet has been drawn over the tracker-bar asfar as desired, and the piece of music been played, control opening 16will be uncovered, as shown in Fig. 2, which will connect the electricmotor so that the operation of the same will rewind the perforatednote-- sheet.

Another control opening 25 is arranged below the opening 16 and inposition also to be covered by the note-sheet when the latter is innormal position. This control opening connects by a tube 26 to controlthe operation of a primary valve 27 of a pneumatic'28 which has an arm29, adjustably connected to which is a rod 30 having a pad 31 forengaging the other button 32 of the switch.

By this arrangement, when the note-sheet has been rewound, as shown inFi 3, the control opening 25 will be uncovered, which will cause thepneumatic 28 to operate and snap the switch D so as throw the motor outof operation.

By the mechanism described, the operator puts the note-sheet in positionand starts the instrument in operation by pushing in on the knob 11. Thenote-sheet will now run forward and the piece of music played.

When the piece of music has been played, the control opening lfi 'Wlllcomeinto operation, the mechanism will be set" so that thenote-sheetwill be rewound; and when the note-sheet has beensubstantially.reWound,g

the operation ofth'e electric motor willbe stopped. This Will leave theparts in position so that all-the operator has-to dois to take there-rolled note sheet out. and putrinh a new music roll or spool for thenext piece. The-details herein shown ands described may be greatlyvaried by 2]SkillBCliIIlBCh3l'llC 4 apertures andstwo openings. atnoneend of said control apertures, said'tWo openings beh1g substantially inalinement with each ot 'e'r -ti'ans-versely to'--the directionof the rowof eontrol apertures and adapted to be controlled by a note sheet havinga notch therein near the edge'thereof adapted to uncover one of saidopenings and having its 'end"also shaped to uncover one of 'saidopenings during thetrayel of the sheet, means controlled by one of'saidopenings for stop;

ping the sheet, andmeansecontrolled by the others of saicL openings hfonre-rollihg: the sheet V lnitestimony whereof" I have hereunto set 'myhand, in, the presence oftWo subscribing;

Witnesses. I p 7 r p p HERBERT J. LAL-JOIEE Witnesses:

R; 1 W. LLAWYBENCE, WM; L.,KNEBEL.,

Uopiesoi this patentmay be obtained forefive cents each;eyflddressing,the!Commissioner. ofQI-Y'tents, 4

Washington, DQCA, V V

